Child Life Practicum and Internship Programs

The Child Life Practicum Program is a 12-week, 140-hour placement, offered during the fall and spring semesters. The Child Life Practicum Program is designed as an introductory experience for individuals interested in pursuing a career in child life. Through experiential learning and observations of Certified Child Life Specialists, child life practicum students begin to increase their knowledge of basic child life skills related to play, developmental assessment and integration of child life theory into interventions with children of all ages and their families. Through these experiences, child life practicum students will enhance their knowledge of the child life profession and investigate the process of applying child life and developmental theory into practice. At the completion of the practicum, the student will be eligible to apply for child life internships.

Practicum Application Requirements

The following requirements must be met at time of application:

1. Successful completion of a minimum of three college-level courses within any combination of the following subject areas: Child Life, Child Development, Family Studies, Human Development, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Education, Expressive Therapies, or Therapeutic Recreation
2. Fifty volunteer/work hours completed in a pediatric hospital or other related areas (i.e. medical camp, rehabilitation center, hospice, educational setting for children with complex medical needs)
3. A minimum overall GPA of 3.0

Please note, students who complete a practicum at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital will be ineligible to apply for a child life internship at our facility.

Practicum Instruction for Requesting an Application

Please download and complete the Child Life Practicum application. Each application is reviewed by the Child Life Practicum Committee. In keeping with the deadlines on the chart below, you will be notified if your application will be considered for the interview process. The application is also available to you via mail or email.

When contacting the practicum coordinator, please provide the following information:

1. Are you currently affiliated with a college or university and what is your course of study? If not, please identify your level of education/degree.
2. For which semester are you applying (fall or spring)?

Contact Information

Leah Yazmer, CCLS 
Child Life Practicum Coordinator  
Child Life Program SP 7-414
20 York Street
New Haven, CT 06510

Phone: 203-688-2336 (ext. 1) 
Email: Leah.Yazmer@ynhh.org

Email is the preferred method of correspondence. However, if you would like to speak with a member of the Practicum Committee please call Leah Yazmer at 203-688-2336 (ext. 1).

Practicum Application Deadlines

The Child Life Internship Program is a 16-week, 600-hour internship that provides individuals with the clinical and professional experiences needed to enter the field of child life. Under the supervision of a team of Certified Child Life Specialists, an intern will learn about all aspects of child life, including therapeutic play, procedural preparation and support, coping techniques, bereavement, and parental and sibling support. At the completion of the internship, an intern will be eligible to sit for the Child Life Council certification exam and will be prepared to practice as an entry-level child life specialist.

Internship Application Requirements and Deadlines

The following requirements must be met at time of application:

• Enrollment in or completion of a degree program (undergraduate or graduate) focused in the fields of child life, child development, family studies, human development, psychology or a related field working with children. Official transcripts are due at time of application. Please contact your registrar and have transcripts sent directly to us or include them with your application. We contract with colleges as well as individual learners.
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
• Successful completion of a minimum of 10 college-level courses that meet the requirements of the Child Life Council. Applicants must submit their transcripts to the Child Life Council for an eligibility assessment. Official documentation from the Child Life Council regarding assessment results is required at time of application. Applicants with fewer than 10 accepted classes will not be considered for placement and the enrollment in future classes will not be counted toward the requirement. *
  Additionally, the Child Life Program at YNHCH requires that a minimum of 5 courses meet the following criteria:
  • One course must be an introductory child life course taught by a Certified Child Life Specialist. This course must be COMPLETED by the application deadline and verified by submitting a CLC Course Verification Form in your application packet. In order to satisfy the CLC’s definition of a child life course, the following six topics must be covered: Child Life Documents, scope of child life practice, impact of illness, injury and health care on patients and families, family-centered care, therapeutic play, and preparation.
  • One course (in addition to the introductory child life course) must be related to child life practice. Some examples include: development of play, death and dying, learning and children, special needs, crisis intervention, or children and humor.
  • At least one course in child development.
  • One course on family systems/relationships.
  • One course on diversity and cultural competence.
• A minimum of 200 hours of practicum, volunteer, or work experience. At least 100 of these hours must be a child life practicum experience in a hospital setting directly under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist. The remaining 100 hours must also represent experience with infants, children and/or families but does not necessarily have to take place in a healthcare setting. All 200 hours must be completed by the application deadline. Proof of practicum hours on hospital letterhead must accompany your application.
• Three original signed letters of recommendation submitted in sealed signed envelopes. Two letters should demonstrate work with children and families and one should demonstrate academic performance. Individuals who have directly observed you and/or your work should complete recommendations.
• NOTE: Candidates are required to be CPR certified at least one month prior to start of internship. The course must be the “Healthcare Provider” level and must cover infant and children. Proof of certification requested upon acceptance to internship program.

* Please refer to the Child Life Council’s internship candidate requirements for specifications and recommended course work.

Internship Application Deadlines

Fall Semester
Application Deadline: Postmarked by March 15th
Offer Deadline: 1st Tuesday of May
Acceptance Deadline: Following Wednesday
Internship Start Date: Early September
Internship End Date: Mid-December

Winter/Spring Semester
Application Deadline: Postmarked by September 5th
Offer Deadline: 2nd Tuesday of October
Acceptance Deadline: Following Wednesday
Internship Start Date: Mid-January
Internship End Date: End of April

To obtain a complete application packet, please contact:
Caitlin Leary MS CCLS CEIM/CIMI CPST
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
Child Life Program, SP 7-414
20 York Street
New Haven, CT 06510

**Email: caitlin.leary@ynhh.org
**Email is the preferred method of correspondence. However, if you would rather speak to a member of the Internship Committee please call Victoria Isaacson at 203-688-5485.

What level of education do I need to be eligible for a child life internship?
An applicant needs to have at least a bachelor's or master’s degree (or enrolled in coursework leading to a bachelor's or master’s degree) in child life or a related field (including but not limited to child development, family studies, human development, psychology, etc.). However, several courses are needed for acceptance to the internship program. Please review the internship requirements above for more specifics.

Do I have to be affiliated with a college/university to complete my internship?
We contract with colleges/universities for enrolled students completing their bachelor's or master's degrees. For individuals who have already earned their bachelor's or master's degree, the contract is between Yale New Haven Hospital and the individual learner. Non-affiliated students must purchase their own professional liability insurance.

Are there fees/expenses associated with the internship?
There is no fee to apply to the internship, which is an unpaid position. Educational materials are provided and administrative costs are covered by the hospital. Interns are provided a meal voucher and parking during their internship work day, and interns are eligible for a 15% food discount in the cafeteria with photo ID. Interns are also responsible for their own housing and living expenses while in New Haven. Child life interns are able to apply for housing in the graduate dormitories associated with Yale School of Medicine and Yale University. The child life intern coordinators have housing resources that will be shared upon acceptance to the program.

What can best prepare me for the internship?
We require a minimum of 200 hours of practicum, volunteer, or work experience. At least 100 of these hours must be a child life practicum experience in a hospital setting directly under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist. This exposure will provide the opportunity to observe the role of a child life specialist and help you solidify your own commitment to the field of child life.

What happens after my application is received?
Each application is reviewed by the Child Life Internship Committee upon receipt. In keeping with the deadlines mentioned above, you will be notified if your application is going forward to the interview process. We require those within 100 miles of New Haven to interview on-site. Parking will be validated the day of the interview; all other travel expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.

What can I expect as a Child Life Intern?
Our goal during the 16-week (600 hour) internship is to provide a professional level, clinical experience that will prepare you to enter the field of child life. As an intern, you will work 40 hours a week following the same schedule as your supervisor(s). The hours are typically during the daytime, although they may vary with supervisor schedules as well as special programming that might occur during the evening. In this way, you will acquire the most realistic and consistent working experience to prepare you to be a child life specialist.